Analysis: Brown’s new Cabinet ministers

Jun 28 2007
Written by Tony Grew

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has appointed several new faces to the Cabinet today as he forms his first administration.

Only one Cabinet minister, Defence Secretary Des Browne, stays in the same job.

While there may be some gay men and lesbians appointed in the more junior posts, there are no openly gay people at the top of government.

There are seven new members of the Cabinet, and two others, Geoff Hoon and Harriet Harman, are returning.

Leaving the government are Tony Blair, John Prescott, Stephen Timms, Baroness Amos, John Reid, Patricia Hewitt, Margaret Beckett, Hilary Armstrong, Lord Goldsmith and Lord Falconer.

With the departure of Baroness Amos to an African Union role there is only one black minister attending Cabinbet, the new Attorney General, Baroness Scotland.

Alastair Darling’s appointment as Chancellor of the Exchequer was widely tipped – Jaqui Smith’s emergence the first female Home Secretary was not.

Ed Balls, referred to as ‘Gordon’s brain,’ finally joins the Cabinet, only two years after becoming an MP.

He is taking charge of part of the split Department for Education and Skills, the new Department for Children, Schools and Families.

His wife Yvette Cooper retains her role as Housing Minister, but in a sign that she is well-regarded by the new Prime Minister, wins the right to sit in on Cabinet meetings.

James Purnell joins the Cabinet as Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, as does Andy Burnham as Chief Secretary to the Treasury.

Shaun Woodward, who defected from the Tory party to Labour in 1999 over Section 28, is the new Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, but he will not receive a ministerial salary.

John Denham joins the Cabinet in the new role of Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills. Ed Miliband becomes Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

The Department for Trade and Industry has become the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform.

Despite intense media speculation about a new “government of the talents,” only one minister so far is from outside the Labour party.

Diplomat Sir Mark Malloch Brown has been made minister for Africa, Asia and UN and will attend Cabinet. It is expected he will be ennobled and take a seat in the House of Lords.

Baroness Ashton of Upholland, who was instrumental in getting the goods and services protection for LGB people on the statute book, joins the Cabinet as Leader of the House of Lords.

Tessa Jowell is to be allowed to remain in Cabinet as Minister for London and the Olympics, though it is unclear what exaclty her role in the Games preparation will be.

The new Cabinet in full:

Prime Minister: Gordon Brown

Chancellor of the Exchequer: Alistair Darling

Foreign Secretary: David Miliband

Home Secretary: Jacqui Smith

Secretary of State for Defence: Des Browne (also becomes Secretary of State for Scotland)

Secretary of State for Health: Alan Johnson

Secretary of State for Justice: Jack Straw

Secretary of State for Work and Pensions: Peter Hain (also Secretary of State for Wales)

Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government: Hazel Blears

Secretary of State for Transport: Ruth Kelly

Secretary of State for Culture, Media Sport: James Purnell